I know this is a music blog, but I've been thinking of the Olympics a lot lately, considering they're coming up in PyeongChang next month. Alli and I are really big on the Olympics, but I realized I'd never seen the Rio mascots. So then I fell down a rabbit hole of Olympic mascots, and I've emerged to show you the best and the worst. TOP 5 WORST OLYMPIC MASCOTS5. Wenlock and Mandeville (Summer 2012, London)Listen, Wenlock and Mandeville are FINE. They're not THAT bad. They seem like goofy frat boys who you'd want to hang out with. They were marketed as being playful and fun, anyway. It's just their design that got them on this list. They're not cute, and definitely not cuddly, as they're made of scrap metal. Anyway, these things severely freaked me out as a kid when I watched the London games. 4. the Polar Bear, the Hare, and the Snow Leopard (Winter 2014, Sochi)The Sochi Olympics are well known for being a complete and total disaster, and their mascots are the same! These things are literally just furries. 3. Sam (Summer 1984, Los Angeles)I get it, we're in the United States, but that's really the best Los Angeles could do? Really? I'd understand DC, but... This thing isn't that ugly, it just looks kind of like a muppet and is probably the most stereotypical mascot out there. 2. Izzy (Summer 1996, Atlanta)This thing makes me glad I wasn't alive in 1996. 1. Athena and Phevros (Summer 2004, Athens)I'm Greek. I've been to Greece. I know a heck of a lot about my culture, and I know there were a million better options for a mascot. If they wanted to bridge the gap from the ancient to modern games, they could have at least chosen some sort of creature from Greek mythology stylized to look cute and cuddly, rather than these mozzarella-cheese-stick looking things. TOP 5 BEST OLYMPIC MASCOTS5. Roni (Winter 1980, Lake Placid)This realistic raccoon is on this list because I've met him personally. It looks like it came from hell because that's pretty much what Lake Placid is in the off season (there was a Can-Am 30-40 Hockey League convention at the hotel I was staying at. They partied like frat boys every night). Anyway, Roni is adorable and you can shut up. I wouldn't want to run into him on the slopes. 4. Powder, Copper, and Coal (Winter 2002, Salt Lake City)These friendly woodland creatures represent Salt Lake City's landscape and resources. They're also definitely on my list of the cutest mascots. The only downside is Copper looks a bit like Cobi (the horrifying fleshy dog thing from the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, not the incredibly attractive blues-rock musician), which sadly deducts a few points. Anyway, these guys are adorable and I want a Cartoon Network show about them. 3. Vučko (Winter 1984, Sarajevo)I don't care what you have to say about Vučko, because I personally think he's adorable. He also looks sort of like the bear from the 'touchad my spaghet' meme, which makes him just that much better. Anyway, he's become sort of a mascot for the city of Sarajevo itself, which I find pretty cool because he's a pretty iconic character. Where can I find merch? 2. Vinicius and Tom (Summer 2016, Rio de Janeiro)I love these guys! They're adorable! Their only flaw is the Rio logo on their chests that subtracts from their art style, which is cute and colorful. I also love the color palette they were drawn in. Oh well. Not all mascots can be perfect, but these two come pretty close. 1. Miga, Sumi, and Quatchi (Winter 2010, Vancouver)I might be partial to these guys because they were quite literally half of my whole childhood (Mario and Sonic Vancouver 2010 represent!), but they are pretty much the ideal mascots for the Olympics. Playful, fun, and most of all, cute and cuddly. Please link me to plush versions of these mascots. It would be gladly appreciated. ConclusionOlympic mascots can be cute, creepy, or straight up ugly, but I think we should all appreciate the games they stand for. The PyeongChang 2018 games' mascots, Soohorang and Bandabi, are no exception.
Anyway, maybe you'll see some Olympics related content from Alli and I coming up soon. Hopefully we'll be as into skiing as we were with volleyball. See you guys soon!
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About The AuthorLiah is a high school senior who plays guitar and loves the color yellow. She doesn't post much, but when she does, it's awesome. We promise.
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